29 
difficulties. He said toxin expression and potency depend on many 
variables. He said, however, that he did not consider Ibx A to be a 
potent toxin. 
Dr. Bems said pyrogenic Staphylococcus aureus is a potent pathogen. 
Dr. Nightingale concurred. 
Dr. Gottesman said the issue is whether Ibx A is a potent toxin; if 
it is not, PI + EK1 containment is indicated by the Guidelines for 
cloning in EL coli K-12. Dr. Novick said he was concerned that 
toxins which are not "potent" may be cloned at PI + EK1 containment. 
Dr. Gottesman moved that, as the RAC is currently in the process of 
reassessing the cloning of toxins under the Guidelines, the proposed 
experiments be approved in ooli K-12 systems under P3 + EK2 condi- 
tions, or at P3 + HV2 with a Bacillus subtilis system. By a vote of 
seventeen in favor, none opposed, the RAC adopted Dr. Gottesman' s 
motion. (Executive Secretary's Note: The Director, NIH, in his 
decision limited cloning of the Tbx A gene to HV2 Bacillus subtilis 
host-vector systems under P3 containment for the present time.) 
G. Request for Permission to Construct an E. coli/H, influenzae Hybrid 
Plasmid for Use in H. influenzae 
Dr. Gottesman introduced the proposal (tab 959) from Dr. Hamilton 
Smith, Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Slnith wishes to insert an 
E. coli gene coding for tetracycline resistance (TnlO) into the 
Haemophilus influenzae plasmid pRSF0885. The plasmid construct 
would be used in Haemophilus influenza strain Rd to clone Haemophilus 
genes . 
Dr. Campbell moved to approve the experiments under PI conditions. 
By a vote of twelve in favor, none opposed, and seven abstentions, 
the RAC adopted the motion. 
XXVI. FUTURE MEETING CATES 
Dr. Gar tl and called the Committee's attention to tab 951 which lists future 
meeting dates. He said the meeting which had been planned for December 
1981 had been rescheduled to January 1982. 
XXVII. CLOSED SESSION 
The RAC went into closed session to consider proposals from commercial 
concerns for scale-up of recombinant DNA experiments. 
[188] 
